Marian Rivera is the new Ambassador for Women and Children with Disabilities

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MANILA, Philippines—Marian Rivera, aside from acting on TV and movies, will also promote the rights of women and children with disabilities in the country.

In a forum at the House of Representatives recently, the Kapuso actress was named as the Ambassador for Women and Children with Disabilities.

In her speech, she underscored that the public and government need to be sensitive to the condition of women and children with disabilities.

“Kung anuman po ang magagawa ko sa inyo, gagawin ko sa abot ng aking makakaya,” she said. ( (Whatever I can do to help you, I will do to the best of my ability).

It will be recalled that in 2009, Rivera played a crippled teenager named Narda in the drama series “Darna.”

“Hindi ko po lubos maisip na ina-acting ko lang iyon. Aaminin ko po na nahirapan talaga ako. So ngayon po na nakikinig ako sa inyo, ano pa kaya yung mga totoong hinaharap ito araw-araw? Napakahirap,” she said.

( I can’t imagine that I am just acting it out. I would admit that I really found it hard to portray. So, now that I am listening to you, what more for the people who are facing it every day. It’s very difficult.)

The actress added that a person should not be judged just because of his/her disability, stressing that there are many women with disability who emerged successful in their career.

“I did some research and found out that Jessica Cox, who is armless, is a licensed pilot. And there’s Rosel Ambubuyog, who graduated summa cum laude from Ateneo despite being blind,” she said.

Rivera finished a degree in Psychology at the De La Salle University-Dasmarinas in Cavite.

Carmen Zubiaga, acting executive director of the National Council on Disability Affairs, believes that Rivera is a good fit for the ambassador role, “Marian can help if she urges her fellow actors and the public to support the education for children with disabilities. With her popularity, the call will ring to the whole nation,” she said.